Paper feeder



v 13, 1956 J. HALAHAN ET AL PAPER FEEDER Filed Aug. 14, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 E10 M0. 1E EaMo. IF

INVENTOR.

JDH/V HAL/U/A/V THEODOPE APO/VSON FLOYD A. L 0N Filecl Aug. 14, 1953 13, 1956 J. HALAHAN ETAL 2,770,453

PAPER FEEDER Filed Aug. 14, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY Nov. 13., 1956 J. HALAHAN ETAL PAPER FEEDER Filed Aug. 14. 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Flow: A. 17ml BY ATTORNEY United States Patent PAPER FEEDER John Halahsn, Broolrviile, Theodore F. Aronson, Valley Stream, and Fioyd A. Lyon, Brooltviiie, N. Y.

Application August 14, 1953, Serial No. 374,304

3 Claims. (Cl. 271-29) The present invention relates to a high speed machine which will rapidly remove papers from a stack of papers, one paper at a time, and is adapted to feed sheets of paper in succession to other apparatus such as printing machines and the like, or to have a counter mechanism associated therewith so that the papers may be removed one at a time and counted.

Paper feeding apparatus of the prior art generally requires moving fingers or sucker arms. These moving parts must wait for a sheet to be completely removed before they can operate on the next sheet. This intermittent operation and recovery time precludes high speed operatron.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a paper feeding mechanism which comprises a rotatable vacuum type takeoff, the take-off functioning progressively to separate a portion of the bottom or outermost sheet from a stack of papers, the sheet so partially separated being thereafter removed in its entirety from the stack.

Another principal object of the present invention resides in providing, in a paper feeding mechanism, a cylindrical vacuum type take-off of the foregoing character which oscillates, for instance 60, plucking one paper at a time from the stack in overlapping relation, in a continuous sucking process.

A further object resides in providing a novel paper feeding mechanism in which the bottom or outermost sheet of a stack is removed from the stack and readily fed to feed rollers and the like or by gravity to a chute.

It is a further object to provide a paper feeding mechanism in which the papers are removed one by one from the bottom of a stack, Without any moving fingers or other apparatus requiring recovery time between sheets.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide a high speed paper feeding mechanism comprising an oscillatory hollow member upon which a stack of papers may rest with the papers extending substantially, horizontally, said hollow member comprising a perforated surface which is curved with respect to the base of the stack, vacuum being supplied to the interior of the hollow member whereby it functions to separate the bottom sheet from the stack. Additionally, a further object resides in providing a mechanism of this character comprising means for temporarily engaging the sheet so separated and for causing it to be engaged between take-off rollers and belts which serve to remove the bottom sheet completely from the stack.

Another object is to provide apparatus for removing papers, in overlapping relation, with a continuous sucking so that no time is lost during the return of the vacuum member to starting position.

Another object is to provide a vacuum take-01f without any valving of the vacuum or intermittent motion.

It is still a further object to provide a paper feed mechanism of the foregoing character in which the hollow member is substantially cylindrical and the cooperable take-off 2,770,458 Patented Nov. 13, i956 belt rollers are mounted not quite coaxially of said cylind-rical members, and wherein further means are provided for passing the partially separated sheet into engagement between the takeoff rollers.

With the foregoing and still further objects in view our invention includes the novel elements and the com binations and arrangements thereof described below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a diagram illustrative of the operation of the invention.

Figures 1A through 1F are further diagrams illustrative of the operation of the invention.

Figure 2 is a front vertical sectional view of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 is a right side elevational view of the embodiment, partially broken away, of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of the embodiment of Figure 1 taken along the lines 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figures 6 and 7 are sectional views similar to Figure 5 and showing the successive stages of the operation of the embodiment of Figure 1 in removing the papers from a stack.

Figure 8 is a view of another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 9 is a sectional view of Figure 7 taken along the line 9-9.

It will be understood that the present invention is useful in separating any form of sheet material such as foil and the like from the stack thereof and is not, of course, necessarily limited to paper. Moreover, although We have in the following described our invention in connection with a vertically arranged stack of papers, it will be under stood that the stack may, if desired, be disposed to extend in other directions such as laterally or at any other convenient angle to the vacuum take-oft member. However, in the embodiment of our invention illustrated the sheets are shown as being removed from the bottom of a vertical stack and hence we have described it in connection with a vertical stack of papers.

Figure l is a diagram illustrative of the operation of the invention, and

Figures 1A through 1F show the sequence of operation.

The cards or papers to be fed are stacked as shown in the area X. Underneath the stack of cards is a cylinder Y shown in cross-section having 90 slot cut therein. The cylinder Y is placed under vacuum and is driven by the drive roller A in an oscillatory manner as shown by the arrow. The bottom paper Z will be peeled off around the cylinder Y as shown. The cylinder Y is then rocked counter-clockwise inserting the front edge of the paper Z between the drive roller A and another driven roller B, whereupon the paper is ejected between. the rollers.

In Figure 1A, a first paper a, is about to be ejected.

In Figure 1B, a second paper b, is peeled off the bottom as the rear edge of paper a uncovers the suction slot.

Figure 1C shows the paper b almost completely wrapped around the cylinder Y.

Figure 1]) shows the paper b completely covering the slot.

Figure 1E shows the cylinder rocking counter-clockwise and inserting the paper b between the drive roller of the cylinder Y and the driven cylinder D.

Figure 1F shows the paper b being ejected by the action of the rollers.

Referring back to Figure l, the drive roller A is eccentric to the sucker cylinder Y so that the bottom card or paper does not touch the drive roller A until it is rocked between the A and B rollers. The roller 3 is preferably driven at the same speed as the paper being inserted so that there will be no grabbing of the paper. The roller B may be spring loaded against the roller A and it may be cam lifted so that the front edge of the paper may be inserted freely and the roller B then dropped back against the roller A. This last modification is preferable where very good registration of the blanks is required.

The operation is a continuous sucking process with no time lost as in the case of the devices use suction arms which have a return stroke during which the suction arm is not covered by any paper. The motion of these sucker arms of the prior art is necessarily intermittent since the oscillating sucker arm only works in one direction and then must wait for the paper to clear before it returns to pick up the next paper.

In the present application, one paper continually follows the next so that the operation is continuous and not intermittent. This permits tremendous speed of operation.

The operation may be briefly summed up as follows:

As the tail end of bottom sheet exposes suction slots, the next sheet follows contour of sucker slots simultaneously with exit of bottom sheets, as shown in Fig. 1A through 1F. Separation is thereby gained without loss of time or moving parts. With the nose of the second sheet now at point C, the sucker is cam-rocked to deposit nose of sheet between driven rollers A and B. The cam is timed to have sheet traveling at same speed as take away rollers so that there is no snatch on the sheet. Now sucker Y rocks back before the exiting sheet exposes slots to the next sheet.

Referring now to Figure 2, one embodiment of our invention generally comprises a hollow cylinder 1 which is adapted to be rotated about it longitudinal axis A by means of cam 2, cam follower 3 and the arm or crank member 4, which in turn is connected to the hollow cylinder 1. The papers 5 to be handled are arranged in a stack above the hollow cylinder 1 so that the bottom thereof rests upon the top periphery thereof. The hollow cylinder 1 is provided with a plurality of axially spaced slots or apertures 7 which extend part way around the cylinders 1 and which may be adjustable in effective length as will be described. The hollow cylinder 1 is connected through a suitable pipe or hose to a source of vacuum pressure so the interior of the hollow cylinder 1 is under vacuum at all times.

As described above, the slots 7 of cylinder 1 may be adjusted in length so that varying amounts of vacuum pressure may be applied at the periphery of the surface whereby papers or sheets of various thickness and flexibility may be readily handled by the apparatus. Such adjustment is obtained as follows. The cylinder 1 comprises a first or internal cylinder having axially spaced slots 7 cut therein which extend, for example, through an arc of said 90". Over the internal cylinder 1 are placed other or outer cylinders 6, 6', 6", having similar 90 slots cut therein so positioned axially thereof that they coincide with the slots 7 in the inner cylinder 1. By this construction, the inner and outer cylinders may be rotatably adjusted relative to one another so that the effective length of the slots may be adjusted. Once adjusted, the outer cylinders 6 may be secured to the inner cylinder 1 by any suitable means, such as by set screws 8'. In order that vacuum pressure will not be lost when narrow sheets are being handled, the outer cylinders may be made in a plurality of sections, such as 6, 6', and 6", the outer sections 6 and 6" being rotated relative to the inner cylinder to a degree where the outer slots will In operation, the lower or outermost paper of the stack 5 is peeled off and separated from the stack and is attracted to the hollow cylinder due to the vacuum pressure exerted through the slots 7, and wraps itself around the periphery thereof. As the hollow cylinder 1 rotates about its longitudinal axis A, the paper is rotated out of the plane of the drawing to a position where it can be gripped by rollers and belts and passed onto a utilization device such as a printing press or the like or into a hopper or container, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

Considering Figure 2 in more detail, the apparatus is mounted on a main bracket or base plate 12, having suitable side members or end plates 13 and 14 for sup porting the various mechanisms therebetween. The hollow cylinder 1 is mounted for rotation by the bearings 15 and 18 which are suitably mounted in the side members 13 and 14 respectively. The power supply for rotating 1 the hollow cylinder is applied through the belts 20 from a suitable motor (not shown) to pulley 21, the shaft 22 of which is connected by means of the gears 23 and 24, and connecting shaft member 25 to the cam 2. The cam 2 has a symmetrical shape having a projecting portion as is shown in Figure 2. The cam 2 is cut so as to provide the proper oscillatory rotation of the hollow cylinder 1. This oscillation is transmitted to the cylinder 1 by means of the cam follower 3, which rides on the cam and rotates the crank member 4. The follower 3 is spring loaded against the cam surface by means of the tension spring 3 having its fixed end suitably secured to the side plate 14 as at 3", Figure 3. The connecting crank member 4 is connected to the shaft 9, which is fixedly connected to the hollow cylinder 1.

The operation of the cam driving mechanism is such that as the cam 2 is rotated continuously the member 4, shaft 9 and hollow cylinder 1, all oscillate about the axis A. The amount of oscillation in a particular embodiment was approximately although it is not, of course, so limited. The amount of oscillation in a particular case is determined by design factors, such as the type of material being fed, its flexibility and weight, and the speed of operation desired, as will be more fully discussed in connection with the remaining figures. Oscillations of 40-90 have been found satisfactory for particularly applications, and an oscillation of about 60 has been shown in Figure 2.

Figure 3 shows the operation of the cam 2 which rotates about the axis B. The cam 2 is driven by the power input on belt 20 and pulley 21, which is connected via shaft 22 (Figure 2), gears 23 and 24, and shaft 25, to the cam 2. The cam follower 3 rides on the cam 2 and oscillates between the positions shown in full and dotted lines in Figure 2. The cam follower 3, is connected to the cylinder 1 by the crank member 4 to shaft 9 (Figure 2) and is adapted to oscillate the cylinder 1 about the axis A.

In operation, the cam 2 is rotated continuously in one direction about its axis B. As the cam follower 3 rides up on the higher portion 21 of the cam 2, it will be displaced to the dotted line position, thereby oscillating be completely closed and only the center slots will be I be divided in length and only one portion rotated, as

will be more fully described.

the hollow cylinder 1. The amount of angular deflection of approximately 60 has been found satisfactory in a particular embodiment. It will be recognized that the amount of the angular deflection may easily be chosen by proper design of the cam. Optimum angular travel of the hollow cylinder is a function of the speed desired and also of the thickness and flexibility of the sheet materials being handled. The vacuum pressure may also be adjusted depending on the flexibility of the papers being handled and the speed of operation. For instance, it will be recognized that thin paper would not require as much suction as relatively stiffer heavy bond paper or cardboard cards. Furthermore, tissue paper would peel easier and only require smaller cylinders set closer to the edge of the paper stack.

Figure 4 shows the general operation of the take-0E belts and rollers. The general operation is that the vacuum wraps a paper around the cylinder and the vacuum cylinder rotates to insert'the paper in the take-off belts. As the take-off belts remove one paper, the vacuum cylinder returns to its initial position. The belts are operated continuously, not intermittently. There is no intermittent operation in the system. The smooth oscillating of the vacuum cylinder is not intermittent nor is there any valving of the vacuumexcept by the overlapping papers, as will be more fully described.

Specifically, Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the apparatus taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1. At the top of Figure 4 is shown the stack of papers 5 which is supported at its forward end by the evacuated cylinder 1 and at its other end by the rack 5'.

Referring to the belt mechanism, its general function is as follows. The belt 31 rides around cylinder 1 on needle bearings located between the sleeves of cylinders 6, 6', and 6" and is driven by the roller 35 keyed to the shaft 22. Suitable tension adjusting means are provided to insure that the belt 31 has the proper tension. These include the bracket 36, which is pivotally connected to the main frame at point 38 and has an idler roller 37 pinioned thereon. The position of the bracket 36 and its idler roller may be adjusted by the screw 39, whereby the tension of the belt may be altered as required.

The other discharge belt 33 is driven by the roller 30 keyed to driven shaft 19, and also has suitable tension adjusting means comprising the bracket 49, adjustable slide and roller 41 and 44, and the idler rollers 42 and 43. A second roller and belt assembly 30', 31' and 33' is also provided, see Figure 1.

The guides 40 are provided to guide the front end of the paper between the belts 31 and 33. The spring 34 is chosen to provide suitable tension on the guide 40. The guide 40 also contains an auxiliary roller 45 which serves as a pressure roller for forcing the peeled sheet against the traveling discharge belt 31.

The roller 45 may be driven if desired, by belt 45, thus giving more positive operation. Also the roller 45 may be retracted once each cycle when the front of the paper passes it, by means of the cam 33' and roller 34'. This insures registration of the blanks if that is necessary. The cam 33' is driven in synchronism with cylinder 1 by suitable means (not shown).

The rollers 30 and 30 (see Figure 2) are fixed to shaft 19 which is mounted inside frame members 13 and 14 by bearings 13' and 14. The shaft 19 is rotated through gear train 23 and 24 by the main driving pulley 21. At the other end of shaft 19 (Figure 2) is a mechanical take-off which may be connected to auxiliary apparatus such as a counter 60.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are enlarged sectional views of the apparatus taken alOng the lines 5-5 of Figure 2, and illustrate, in successive stages, the operation of the apparatus of our invention. As can be noted from Figure 2, the upper discharge belts 31 andn 31' ride on bearings in grooves between the outer cylinders sections 6 and 6". Cylinder 1, as described, oscillates as shown by the arrow, to about 60 counterclockwise. As the slot 50 in cylinder 1, Figure 5 is uncovered by the preceding paper 0 the next paper P is attracted by the vacuum pressure and will be wrapped around the cylinder and will be pulled forward and around. The front end of the paper P will be caught between the pressure roller 45 and traveling belt 31 so that it will be gripped between the traveling belts 31 and 33, and will be ejected by them onto an outgoing platform (not shown) and into a suitable receptacle or onto another machine such as a press or the like.

Note that belt 31 rides inside the outer surface of sleeve 6 at the top but outside at the bottom. The belt 3.1 becomes flush with the surface of 6 at about the point T where roller 45 and sleeve 6 contact. This is so the belt 31 will not come in contact with the stack of papers and buckle the bottom paper.

Figures 6 and 7 show further the operation of the rotating cylinder 1 and the paper gripping belts 31 and 33. I Figure 6, the slot 50 has caused the paper P to. be attracted by the vacuum so that it has become separated from the stack 5 and wrapped around the cylinder. Preceding paper 0 has been moved from its position in Figure 5. Paper P is overlapping preceding paper 0, so that there is no vacuum leak. The cylinder 1 in Figure 6 is at its most clockwise position and then rotates to the position shown in Figure: 7 to insert the paper P between the belt 31 and the roller 45.

In Figure 7, the paper P is shown wrapped around the cylinder 1 and removed from the stack by the rotation of the cylinder 1. From Figure 7 it can be seen that the paper P will be guided by the guide 40 and its auxiliary roller 45 until it comes between, and is gripped by the belts 31 and 33, whence it will be ejected onto an outgoing platform or other machine. Preceding paper 0 is shown being ejected. The cylinder slots are always covered by overlapping papers. There is no lost recovery time since cylinder 1 recovers clockwise while covered by a paper gripped in the roller and belts. As the gripped paper is drawn off by the belts the cylinder is already sucking the next paper. It is a continuous sucking process for high speed operation.

The slot 50 in cylinder 1 may be of a size to subtend an arc of approximately 90, but is not so limited. The size of slot in a particular case is a design factor influenced somewhat by the flexibility of the material being handled. The slot 41 in cylinder 6 may substend a greater angle and is adjustable to vary the opening of slot 50, as by a set screw.

Figures 8 and 9 show another embodiment of the invention in which only the center portion 70 is oscillated. This embodiment also eliminates the belt around the cylinder and utilizes only a set of single belts 71 and 72. In this embodiment as in the previous case, the cylinder is connected by means of the pipe 73 to a vacuum source. The vacuum in the rotatable cylinder 70 is confined at the right hand side of cylinder 70 by a suitable vacuum seal at 70. The slotted oscillated member 70 is connected by means of the shaft 74 to the member 4 which is actuated by the cam 2 and the cam follower 3 exactly as previously described.

Figure 9 shows a sectional view of Figure 8 taken along the line 99. Figure 9 shows how the upper belt around the cylinder of the previous embodiment is eliminated. The belt 71 is driven by the drive pulley 8t and extends around spring loaded pulley 81, adjustable pulley 82 and tension regulating pulleys 83 and 84. The driven pulley rotates in the direction of the arrow 85, and the papers from the stack 86 are drawn around the cylinder 70 and between the cylinder 70 and the belt 71, the paper is ejected by the movement of the belt 71 in the direction of the arrow 87. The oscillatory motion of the pickoff 70 is exactly the same as described in the previous embodiment. If it is desired, the vacuum may be valved by a valve connected between the pickoff cylinder 70 and a vacuum source and actuated in synchronism with the cam motion.

Cam 81 and roller 81 may be added, if desired, to move the roller 81 from the cylinder 70 so that the front end of the paper may be inserted freely. This modification will provide perfect registration of the papers, for instance, for printing purposes.

While we have described our invention in its preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the words which we have used are words of description rather than words of limitation and changes may be had within purview of the appended claims without departing: from the true scope and spirit of our invention in its broader aspects.

We claim:

1. A feeding mechanism for paper and the like compapers to rest operatively upon said member with the,

closest paper adjacent and tangent one end of said aperture, means for placing the interior of said cylinder under a partial continuous vacuum between papers, and means for oscillating said member and moving said closest paper when overlapping the slotted portion of said cylinder separated in part from the rest of the stack and means for removing said paper from the stack such that the line of travel of said paper is along said surface.

2. A feeding mechanism for paper and the like comprising a hollow curved surface member oscillatably mounted having at least one peripherally extending aperture therein communicating between the exterior and interior of said member, means for supporting a stack of papers to rest operatively upon said member with the closest paper adjacent one end of said aperture and tangent to said curved surface, means for placing the interior of said cylinder under a partial continuous vacuum between papers, and means for oscillating said mem her and moving said closest paper when overlapping the slotted portion of said cylinder separated in part from the rest of the stack and for removing said paper from the stack, including means for holding said paper against said surfacewherebyas the trailing edge of said paper exposes said aperture a second paper is sucked onto said surface in overlapping relation to said first paper.

, 3. A feedingmechanism for paper and the like comprising an oscillatable hollow member, means for supportingastack of papers to contact operatively with said hollow member, said hollow member having an aperture therein, said aperture extending along the surface of said hollow member to the point where said stack contacts said hollow member, means for placing the interior of said member under a partial continuous vacuum between papers, and means for moving the paper closest said hollow member when overlapping said aperture from said stack, including means to oscillate said member and means for holding said paper against the surface of said hollow member throughout the apertured area.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,175,807 Jones 1. Mar. 14, 1916 1,520,023 Grunlee Dec. 23, 1924 2,033,849 Mudd Mar. 10, 1936 2,233,149- Welk Feb. 25, 1941 2,251,945 Labombarde Aug. 12, 1941 A mu 

